SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Percentage of
respondents
who were
unemployed
job seekers
in 2013:
14.9
Percentage of
respondents
who are
female:
51.2
Most respondents’ highest degree was
in general chemistry or biochemistry.
Physical chemistry
2%
Inorganic chemistry
2%
Organic chemistry
3%
Chemical education
3%
Analytical chemistry
3%
Chemical engineering
8%
Median 2013 starting salary for
inexperienced grads:
$39,560
Othera
6%
for bachelor’s
$55,000
General chemistry
43%
for master’s
$75,750
Biochemistry
31%
for Ph.D.s
Respondents = 2,035
NOTE: Of the respondents who indicated both their highest degree earned and
their field of highest degree, 85% earned new bachelor’s degrees, 5% earned
master’s degrees, and 9% earned Ph.D.s. a Includes respondents who selected
agricultural/food chemistry, environmental chemistry, forensic chemistry,
materials science, medical/pharmaceutical chemistry, or polymer chemistry as
field of highest degree, as well as those who opted not to select a field.
NOTE: For some respondent groups, the number of responses was small and not necessarily representative
of the wider pool of chemistry graduates in a given group.
Median age of 2013 survey takers:
23 27 29
for
bachelor’s
STARTING SALARIES
ACS survey of 2013 graduates finds HIGHER UNEMPLOYMENT
RATE, little change in entry-level salaries for those finding work
SUSAN R. MORRISSEY, C&EN WASHINGTON
for
master’s
for
Ph.D.s
of 17.8%. The respondents can be divided
into several categories—degree or experience level, for instance, or field of study,
gender, or type of employment. For some
of these groups, the number of responses
was small and not necessarily representative of the wider pool of chemistry graduates in a given group.
STUDENTS WHO COMPLETED their
fields. The survey, which was sent to 11,454
RESPONDING GRADUATES’ field of
studies and tried to enter the workforce in
recent graduates in October 2013, is constudy varied by degree earned. For bach2013 experienced a very high unemployducted annually by Gareth S. Edwards of
elor’s degree recipients, nearly half earned
ment rate of 14.9%—up from 12.6% in
the ACS Department of Research & Brand
a degree in general chemistry, a third in
2012, and more than four times the 3.5%
Strategy under the guidance of the ACS
biochemistry, and almost 8% in chemical
unemployment rate experienced by all
Committee on Economic & Professional
engineering. At the master’s level, the top
ACS-member chemists in March 2013. The
Affairs. A total of 2,035 usable responses
three degree areas were general chemistry
jump in unemployment is primarily driven
were received for an overall response rate
(24.8%), biochemistry (16.5%), and analytiby a large number of bachelor’s degree
cal chemistry (11.9%). The top areas
earners who were unable to find jobs.
for new Ph.D.s were organic chemistry
WHERE THE JOBS ARE
At the same time, the percentage
(18.5%), analytical chemistry (16.8%),
More respondents found employment
of newly minted graduates who found
and chemical engineering and bioin academia than in other sectors
full-time positions was up nearly three
chemistry (both 13.6%).
points from the prior year to 29.0%.
Of the responding bachelor’s degree
B.A./B.S.
M.S.
PH.D.
The median starting salary for inexperecipients, 36.6% reported finding fullAcademia
37%
44%
47%
rienced individuals finding full-time
time positions. Those earning master’s
Chemical industry
30
35
24
jobs remained flat in current dollars at
degrees and Ph.D.s had more success,
Other nonmanufacturing
25
12
21
Government
7
9
8
$41,600.
with 48.1% and 46.1%, respectively, of
Self-employed
2
0
1
These are some of the key findings
respondents saying they had obtained
of the American Chemical Society’s
a full-time job. On the other side of the
NOTE: Percentages are for all responding 2013 graduates with full- or
part-time employment. Numbers may not sum to 100% because of
survey of individuals who graduated
coin, 15.8% of bachelor’s degree earnrounding. Table contains some data derived from sample sizes too
during the 2013 academic year with
ers, 16.0% of master’s degree earners,
small to generalize.
degrees in chemistry and related
and 6.1% of Ph.D. recipients were seek-
The jump in unemployment is primarily driven by a large number
of bachelor’s degree earners who were unable to find jobs.
CEN.ACS.ORG
28
JUNE 2, 2014
EMPLOYMENT STATUS
ing, but unable to find, employment. This
unemployment rate is up from 2012 levels
for bachelor’s and master’s degree earners
but down slightly from 2012 for Ph.D. recipients (C&EN, April 22, 2013, page 47).
Most of those who did find jobs ended up
working in industry. Some 55.2% of bachelor’s degree, 46.9% of master’s degree, and
45.0% of Ph.D. recipients reported finding
full- or part-time work in industry. Academia provided jobs for 36.6% of bachelor’s,
44.4% of master’s, and 46.7% of Ph.D.s.
Finding government jobs were 6.6% of
bachelor’s degree recipients, 8.6% of master’s degree recipients, and 7.7% of Ph.D.s.
Nearly half of Ph.D. and master’s degree earners and slighly more than
one-third of bachelor’s grads were employed full-time last year
MORE ONLINE
2005
BACHELOR’S
Full-time
Permanent
Temporary
Part-time
Permanent
Temporary
Graduate/
professional
school
Not employed
Seeking
Not seeking
40%
31
9
4
1
3
44
To view an interactive graphic comprising these data,
visit http://cenm.ag/salsurvey.
2006
2007
42%
34
9
4
1
4
44
43%
33
10
7
1
5
40
2008
40%
31
9
5
1
4
41
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
32%
23
9
7
2
5
46
33%
24
9
6
2
5
46
33%
23
10
8
2
6
41
34%
24
10
9
2
7
39
37%
27
10
9
2
7
35
12
8
4
10
6
4
11
8
3
14
10
4
15
12
3
15
12
4
17
14
4
18
13
4
20
16
4
50
45
5
9
2
8
30
52
44
8
5
0
4
34
54
48
7
6
1
4
34
49
41
7
6
1
5
35
43
38
5
8
5
3
30
47
37
10
7
4
4
31
48
38
10
7
3
4
22
50
44
6
7
2
4
32
48
40
9
13
1
12
20
11
8
3
9
6
4
6
3
3
10
7
3
18
15
3
15
11
4
23
18
5
11
10
2
19
16
3
44
39
5
2
0
2
45
9
6
3
41
37
4
2
1
1
49
8
6
2
50
46
3
2
1
2
41
7
5
2
53
51
3
2
1
2
37
7
4
3
45
40
5
3
0
3
44
9
7
2
44
38
7
2
0
1
45
9
6
3
38
33
5
4
0
4
47
12
9
3
46
41
6
5
1
4
41
8
8
1
46
42
4
6
1
6
42
6
6
0
FOR NEWLY MINTED and employed
graduates with less than 12 months of experience, the median starting salary was down
from 2012 for earners of bachelor’s degrees
and Ph.D.s. Specifically for 2013 graduates
with bachelor’s, the median salary was
$39,560 in 2013, down slightly from $40,000
in 2012. For Ph.D.s, the median salary was
$75,750, down from $80,000 in 2012.
But the situation was different for master’s degree earners. The median starting
salary for inexperienced graduates in this
group was $55,000, up from $48,000 in 2012.
Those holding chemical engineering degrees reported higher pay. The median 2013
starting salary of Ph.D. chemical engineers
was $90,500 as compared with the $66,000
salary reported by Ph.D. chemists. And for
those who earned a bachelor’s degree, the
median salary was $66,700 for chemical
engineers, almost twice the $35,900 earned
by chemists in this group. There were
insufficient data for chemical engineers
earning master’s degrees.
Median starting salaries also varied
depending on sector. For all bachelor’s degree respondents with less than 12 months
of experience who took a job in the academic sector, the median salary in 2013 was
$34,000. This figure is down $2,000 from
the previous year. For those who took a job
in industry, the median salary was $40,000,
the same as it was in 2012. But for those
who ended up with jobs in the government,
median salaries were up by $1,500 from
2012 to $40,000 in 2013.
Still, for full-time employed graduates
with less than 12 months of experience, the
2013 survey shows that the gender pay gap
is narrowing. The median starting salary
for men in this category was $44,000; it
was $40,000 for their female counterparts.
This $4,000 gender gap is down from
$6,000 in 2012 and $8,000 in 2011.
MASTER’S
Full-time
Permanent
Temporary
Part-time
Permanent
Temporary
Graduate/
professional
school
Not employed
Seeking
Not seeking
PH.D.
Full-time
Permanent
Temporary
Part-time
Permanent
Temporary
Postdoc
Not employed
Seeking
Not seeking
NOTE: Employment status of all respondents as of October each year. Respondents listed by highest degree received.
Numbers may not sum to subtotals or total 100% because of rounding. Table contains some data derived from sample
sizes too small to generalize.
STARTING SALARIES OF INEXPERIENCED GRADS
Constant-dollar salaries for M.S. degree earners grew in 2013
but declined for Ph.D. and bachelor’s degree earners
$ THOUSANDS
B.A./B.S.
CURRENT
CONSTANT
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
$37.0
38.0
40.2
40.0
38.0
40.0
40.0
40.0
39.6
$37.0
36.8
37.9
36.3
34.6
35.8
34.7
34.0
33.2
CURRENT
$52.0
48.8
52.0
52.0
60.0
45.0
46.7
48.0
55.0
M.S.
CONSTANT
$52.0
47.3
49.0
47.2
54.6
40.3
40.6
40.8
46.1
PH.D.
CURRENT
CONSTANT
$75.0
66.5
77.0
80.0
76.3
75.0
85.0
80.0
75.8
$75.0
64.4
72.5
72.6
69.4
67.2
73.8
68.1
63.5
NOTE: Median annual salaries of responding new graduates with full-time permanent employment and less than 12
months of technical work experience prior to graduation. Current dollars are 2005 dollars and are calculated using
the Consumer Price Index.
CEN.ACS.ORG
29
JUNE 2, 2014
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
CHEMISTS VS. CHEMICAL ENGINEERS
In general, survey respondents who reported taking a full-time position said they
were satisfied, although the degree of job
satisfaction varied with advanced degree
level. For example, when it comes to feeling
professionally challenged by their position,
only 69.2% of bachelor’s degree recipients
indicated they were, whereas 80.3% of master’s degree holders and 87.6% of Ph.D.s
said the same.
Similarly, when it comes to feeling like
their education relates to the field they
work in, 74.8% of bachelor’s degree earners
agreed, compared with 86.6% of master’s
earners and 93.5% of Ph.D. holders. And
when asked if their training and education
is commensurate with their job, 70.5% of
bachelor’s degree earners and 78.0% of
master’s earners agreed, as compared with
90.6% of Ph.D. holders. More than half of
Ph.D. earners—58.0%—said that the position they accepted is what they expected
to be doing when they began their doctoral
studies.
Chemical engineering grads were more likely to go into industry
and were better paid than chemists
B.A./B.S.
CHEMISTS
M.S.
CHEMICAL
ENGINEERS
CHEMISTS
PH.D.
CHEMICAL
ENGINEERS
CHEMISTS
CHEMICAL
ENGINEERS
BY EMPLOYMENT
Full-time
Part-time
Further study
Unemployed
Seeking
Not seeking
34%
9
37
20
16
4
66%
2
13
19
19
0
48%
13
19
20
17
3
46%
18
27
9
9
0
45%
6
41
7
7
0
52%
4
44
0
0
0
BY EMPLOYER
Academia
Industry
Government
Self-employed
39
53
7
2
16
82
2
0
46
46
8
0
38
50
13
0
49
43
8
0
35
57
4
4
BY GENDER
Women
54
38
48
50
45
32
2
2
13
30
23
24
$52.5
$78.0
$66.0
$90.5
BY CITIZENSHIP
Temporary visas
SALARIES ($ thousands)
Full-time permanent
$35.9
$66.7
NOTE: Median salary data for all responding 2013 graduates regardless of experience. Numbers may not sum to subtotals or total 100% because of rounding. Table contains some data derived from sample sizes too small to generalize.
LANDING A JOB remained challenging in
2013, and respondents continued to look to
a mix of sources for help finding openings.
BACHELOR’S
More than a quarter of all respondents
SALARIES BY
said electronic media was the most effective job search method. The most popular
EMPLOYER SIZE
electronic job search methods included
Median pay scaled with size of firm
Internet searches, employee websites, and
MEDIAN SALARY
job-posting sites such as Monster.com,
($ THOUSANDS)
SIZE OF EMPLOYER
CareerBuilder, Indeed.com, LinkedIn, and
Fewer than 50 employees
$31.1
50–99
32.9
CraigsList. Other common job-finding
100–499
36.0
methods included faculty adviser help, in500–2,499
40.0
formal channels, and placement services.
2,500–9,999
45.0
But not all survey respondents opted
10,000–24,999
41.0
to join the workforce. Slightly more than
25,000 or more
49.0
a third of them opted to pursue advanced
NOTE: Median salaries of responding 2013 bachelor’s
studies or postdoctoral positions. For newly
degree graduates with full-time permanent employment.
minted Ph.D.s, 41.7% indicated they were
taking a postdoc position.
This is roughly flat from 2012.
SALARIES BY
Of respondents graduatPRIMARY WORK FUNCTION
ing with bachelor’s degrees,
Salaries for women were higher than those for
35.1% opted to continue their
studies. More than 35% of this
men in some job areas
group reported pursuing ad$ THOUSANDS
MEN
WOMEN
ALL
vanced studies in chemistry,
Development/design
$60.0
$63.0
$62.0
while 25.8% were going on
Management
45.0
34.5
45.0
Professional services
60.0
51.0
56.0
to study medicine and 10.3%
Research
43.8
41.5
42.0
pharmacy or pharmacology.
Production/quality control
37.2
40.5
40.0
Of the survey respondents
Teaching
44.5
38.0
40.0
who received a master’s deOther
35.0
37.0
36.0
gree, 19.8% were pursuing adALL
$45.0
$40.8
$43.0
vanced studies, with 61.9% of
NOTE: Median salaries for responding 2013 bachelor’s degree graduates
this group continuing on with
with full-time permanent employment.
chemistry studies. ◾
CEN.ACS.ORG
30
JUNE 2, 2014
ADVANCED STUDIES
BY TOPIC
Most chemically trained
bachelor’s grads continued
studies in a field other than
chemistry
FIELD OF FURTHER STUDY
Chemistry
Other sciences
Pharmacology
Biochemistry
Life sciences
Other/math
Engineering
Chemical/biochemical
Other
Health
Medicine
Dentistry
Othera
B.A./B.S.
35%
27
10
10
4
3
4
3
1
30
26
5
4
NOTE: Percentages are of respondents who
were continuing advanced studies full-time after
earning a bachelor’s degree in a chemical field in
2013. Numbers may not sum to subtotals or total
100% because of rounding. a Includes business
management, education, and law.